FIVE dogs at the Millbrook animal centre earned themselves a treat last week after winning prestigious awards.

As part of the Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog scheme, all five won silver awards for showing incredible discipline and completing a number of tasks.

Over eight weeks the dogs, who had already passed their bronze awards, practised skills that would test the patience of some humans.

June Williams, resident dog trainer and behaviour consultant at the RSPCA centre in Guildford Road, Chobham, said: “In one exercise, humans eat food in their presence and they have to sit patiently without asking for scraps.

“Then they have to sit five metres away from their owners for two minutes without approaching them, which is a very long time. They have to be incredibly disciplined and pay attention to their owners, and all did really, really well.”

Many of the dogs have had chequered pasts and learned the skills in just an eight-week course.

Dr Williams added: “We are dealing with dogs who have been re-homed more than once, some of them as adults. Some people have their dogs from puppies and training them from that age is one thing.

“But some were found in bad condition or were strays so they have all histories and baggage which their owners have to work with.”

In the 30 months training has been run at Millbrook, 60 dogs have been put through the bronze class. The five that have completed their silver are now going for gold.

More information about the centre and the dog courses is available on 0870 0101840.